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Sounds like the drain hole for your HVAC housing is blocked. The housing is behind your dash/glove box and contains the heater core and evaporator units. As warm outside air passes over the evaporator, the refrigerant in your car's AC system absorbs heat and cools the air that enters the cabin. This process causes water to condense on the evaporator just like on the outside of a cold drink on a hot day. This water should drain through one or more holes in the bottom of the HVAC housing and out through the evaporator drain hose which leads outside of the cabin and underneath the car. If it doesn't, it will pool inside the HVAC housing and potentially 'spill' as you go around corners.
Check to see if there is any water dripping under the car while the AC is running on a hot day. If no puddle has formed after 5-10 minutes, then the drain tube is completely blocked. First try to locate the drain tube where it leaves the firewall. On 99-03 models, this should be near (or under) the steering shaft. Remove the tube and check for blockage. If the tube is clear, then the problem is inside your HVAC housing.
If the problem is inside the HVAC housing, you will have to remove the dash to get to it. Typically, you won't be able to get to the inside of the housing while it is in the car, but you may get lucky. Just remember if you have to remove the box, you'll have to take your car to a shop to safely discharge the refrigerant first. Once inside, clear the blockage and then reassemble.
If this sounds like too much effort, or you can't be without your car for awhile, take it to a shop (it will cost you - as much as $300 in labor) or enroll in the automotive HVAC class at your local community college. It may not be glamorous, but you'll get the knowledge to do it yourself and maybe even the use of the school's facilities to do the work.
Hope this helps!
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07-28-2005, 05:21 PM
